Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[LLCoolCY]

Ivy League Duke makes a lot of sense

I'm sure 1-n-done recruits and Nike would love the exposure the Ivy League would provide on Friday nights via CBS SportsNet. Not to mention Ivey league doesn't allow athletic scholarships.
Talk about a fanbase rioting for a conference move.

(I assume you forgot the ?)

 

[KnappShack]

I'm sure 1-n-done recruits and Nike would love the exposure the Ivy League would provide on Friday nights via CBS SportsNet. Not to mention Ivey league doesn't allow athletic scholarships.
Talk about a fanbase rioting for a conference move.

(I assume you forgot the ?)

They'd change the entire goddam thing for Duke.

The campus has a really cool vibe and the arena looks like a church. Duke should be Ivy.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I'm sure 1-n-done recruits and Nike would love the exposure the Ivy League would provide on Friday nights via CBS SportsNet. Not to mention Ivey league doesn't allow athletic scholarships.
Talk about a fanbase rioting for a conference move.

(I assume you forgot the ?)

Dukes president might just say yes to it so that they could say they were president of an Ivy League school though. Only half joking.

 

[cykadelic2]

The Big 12 added the 4 new teams in Sep 2021. USC & UCLA didn't leave Pac12 until Jun 30, 2022. Bowlsby was on the steering committee that proposed the 12 team playoff in Spring 2021. I think he rightly knew the Big12 would always be at a disadvantage with 10 teams when the SEC had 16.

There was enough industry chatter back in 2021 to determine that USC leaving the PAC had decent probability and that aggregating inventory for bid with the PAC via merger or partnership was the best path to max out payouts for both conferences.. I got the need at the time to add two schools to backfill OUT but not the need to unnecessarily add four back then.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

They'd change the entire goddam thing for Duke.

The campus has a really cool vibe and the arena looks like a church. Duke should be Ivy.

I’m sorry did you just say the Ivy League would change for Duke? That’s insane. They would change for no one let alone a school they like to constantly remind isn’t an Ivy.

 

[exCyDing]

Since every winner requires a loser, some of those top 25 brands won't remain in the top 25 long term.

Talent distribution is going to be another problem. Without a draft, transfer rules or NIL limits, the rich are just going to continually get richer. It'll be almost impossible to turn around a losing program.

 

[LLCoolCY]

They'd change the entire goddam thing for Duke.

The campus has a really cool vibe and the arena looks like a church. Duke should be Ivy.

Ha! Yes, Harvard, Yale. Columbia etc are known for progressive changes in 200 year tradtions and will do anything to improve their Athletic brand.
ESPN/Fox would be salivating to pay for the Ivy media Football rights too get the DUKE brand. Surprised this hasn't happened already.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

I'm sure 1-n-done recruits and Nike would love the exposure the Ivy League would provide on Friday nights via CBS SportsNet. Not to mention Ivey league doesn't allow athletic scholarships.
Talk about a fanbase rioting for a conference move.

(I assume you forgot the ?)

They don't allow athletic scholarships but there isn't a basketball player in that league paying a dime towards their education.

That said, Duke going Ivy is a non-starter for a multitude of reasons.

 

[isucy86]

Personally disagree with BC, Pitt, and Cal. GT used to get talked about a lot but are beyond irrelevant right now. However I could see them taking Virginia instead of ND since ND would have to be forced to join.

I'm still a believer that Big10 eventually adds 4 more Pac12 teams. Creating a 24 team Big10 with four 6 team divisions. That way West Coast football teams only make 2 road trips east during the season.

Oregon & Washington are the obvious choices. But the Big10 can be patient in determining the other two schools based on how streaming progresses and what other Pac10 team enhance their standing over the next 6 years. Stanford & Cal received a lot of attention last summer, but there are other large TV markets and schools that might rise up by 2030. That's why Utah and Arizona State have been reticent about joining the Big12. They are hoping time is on their side or Cal/Stanford don't want to invest in playing at the highest level of football.

 

[Gonzo]

I’m sorry did you just say the Ivy League would change for Duke? That’s insane. They would change for no one let alone a school they like to constantly remind isn’t an Ivy.

The only reason they'd possibly vote to let Duke in is so all the other student sections could chant "Safety School!" at Duke's student section during basketball games.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I'm still a believer that Big10 eventually adds 4 more Pac12 teams. Creating a 24 team Big10 with four 6 team divisions. That way West Coast football teams only make 2 road trips east during the season.

Oregon & Washington are the obvious choices. But the Big10 can be patient in determining the other two schools based on how streaming progresses and what other Pac10 team enhance their standing over the next 6 years. Stanford & Cal received a lot of attention last summer, but there are other large TV markets and schools that might rise up by 2030. That's why Utah and Arizona State have been reticent about joining the Big12. They are hoping time is on their side or Cal/Stanford don't want to invest in playing at the highest level of football.

If the big ten goes to 24 we’re officially in a super league and break away with the SEC territory. I personally don’t think that happens but if we get to the point you’re proposing that is potentially devastating for the Big12 unless some teams go full Clemson status. I also personally would hate it as I think 16 is a great number but I know 16 isn’t going to be the final team count.

 

[cysmiley]

They'd change the entire goddam thing for Duke.

The campus has a really cool vibe and the arena looks like a church. Duke should be Ivy.

Yeah but they are confused; it is an arena, but it should be a church yet they call it a stadium.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

If the big ten goes to 24 we’re officially in a super league and break away with the SEC territory. I personally don’t think that happens but if we get to the point you’re proposing that is potentially devastating for the Big12 unless some teams go full Clemson status. I also personally would hate it as I think 16 is a great number but I know 16 isn’t going to be the final team count.

16 is perfect.

Can't wait for the 8 day long basketball tournaments for 20 team leagues....

 

[FriendlySpartan]

16 is perfect.

Can't wait for the 8 day long basketball tournaments for 20 team leagues....

Especially if your team isn’t playing until day 5 with 4 byes. So stupid

 

[isu81]

If the big ten goes to 24 we’re officially in a super league and break away with the SEC territory. I personally don’t think that happens but if we get to the point you’re proposing that is potentially devastating for the Big12 unless some teams go full Clemson status. I also personally would hate it as I think 16 is a great number but I know 16 isn’t going to be the final team count.

I think for both the SEC and B10 to go to 24 and consolidate in to the two super conferences, there would be additional teams from the B12 in addition to the ACC and Pac.

 

[jcyclonee]

I’m sorry did you just say the Ivy League would change for Duke? That’s insane. They would change for no one let alone a school they like to constantly remind isn’t an Ivy.

I think you need to read @KnappShack's signature line. "This is a parody account..."

 

[isucy86]

Ivy League Duke makes a lot of sense

It could go beyond Duke.

A lot of the focus has been on the money, rightfully so. But with lawsuits pushing for employee status, could we see private & elite academic schools push for a 2nd path in football aligned with an Ivy League attitude toward the student athlete experience. A football equivalent of the Big East with 16 schools like:

• Duke
• Wake Forest
• Boston College
• Syracuse
• Army
• Navy
• GaTech
• Vanderbilt
• Tulane
• SMU
• Rice
• Notre Dame
• Northwestern
• Air Force
• Stanford
• Cal

Notre Dame is a stretch for such a conference as they view ND football as elite and competing for national titles as a birthright. But for schools like Duke, Stanford, Cal, GT, Northwestern and Vanderbilt- do they realistically feel they can compete for one of the twelve playoff berths? If not, what benefit is there competing at the highest level. It's not like being in the Big10 or SEC means a school is more profitable. Athletic Departments spend every dollar they earn.

I could also see such a mindset attractive for public universities that don't want to make athletes employees and don't feel the need to compete at the highest level. Focus is on the game day experience vs. TV money. College Football versions of Back to the Future.

 

[cyclones500]

16 is perfect.

Can't wait for the 8 day long basketball tournaments for 20 team leagues....

I think a 20-team can be done in six days, but that's still too much.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

It could go beyond Duke.

A lot of the focus has been on the money, rightfully so. But with lawsuits pushing for employee status, could we see private & elite academic schools push for a 2nd path in football aligned with an Ivy League attitude toward the student athlete experience. A football equivalent of the Big East with 16 schools like:

• Duke
• Wake Forest
• Boston College
• Syracuse
• Army
• Navy
• GaTech
• Vanderbilt
• Tulane
• SMU
• Rice
• Notre Dame
• Northwestern
• Air Force
• Stanford
• Cal

Notre Dame is a stretch for such a conference as they view ND football as elite and competing for national titles as a birthright. But for schools like Duke, Stanford, Cal, GT, Northwestern and Vanderbilt- do they realistically feel they can compete for one of the twelve playoff berths? If not, what benefit is there competing at the highest level. It's not like being in the Big10 or SEC means a school is more profitable. Athletic Departments spend every dollar they earn.

I could also see such a mindset attractive for public universities that don't want to make athletes employees and don't feel the need to compete at the highest level. Focus is on the game day experience vs. TV money. College Football versions of Back to the Future.

Because they are still in the same category of those competing at the highest level and with the playoff expanding every once in awhile the stars may align and they get in. Northwestern gets bashed on here a lot but they actually represented the west (yes it’s awful) twice in the big ten championship the past 4 seasons. Stanford was in the rose bowl when in mattered less then a decade ago and duke has had the odd good finish or two. Do that during a 12 team playoff and you could be looking at a bid.

Also the employee thing is going to be fought by every school until the courts force them to do it.

 

[Pope]

Talent distribution is going to be another problem. Without a draft, transfer rules or NIL limits, the rich are just going to continually get richer. It'll be almost impossible to turn around a losing program.

I'm not sure I agree. Now that athletes can transfer without losing eligibility, I'm thinking the blue bloods won't be able to keep 4 and 5 star recruits sitting on the bench like they've been able to do.